Reclining article of furniture



June 14, 1949. A. LORENZ 2,472,854

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 17, 1946 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR fi/vm/v laeixvz HIS ATTORNEY I June 14, 1949. LORENZ 2,472,854

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m sIIATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1949 Thisis centiniia'tionAin-Dart ofpatent-application 'seiial #624,862 relating-"to A reclining articlea'of furnitiiie. filed October '26, 1945, and ofi'pat'nt apfilicatiofiSerial #642,652 relating to Av reclining articleof 'furniti1r'efiledJanuary 22;:1946; i

This invention relates to an article of furniture and"inorepar-ticularly to .a reclining article of r furniture, wherein theseat anda downward ex tens'ion" 6f the" bali-rest form "movable links'ofcoinpbimdl linkage swingabl-y mounted we support," a.-,portion of thelatter a polygonal forming? the stationaryilink of said linkage.

An objectioffthe'present invention is to pro vide a; reclining'articl'e' off-furniture of above described? type; wherein the movablemembers of-' the -ar t'ic1e"of furnitiire are very-well balanced,"sothatfan occupant-resting in the article of furnitu'ie 'maybring the'mov'ab1e members of the article {of furniture from one position into anothei; position with'oht great effort.

A, furtherobj'e'ct of thepres'ent invention is to provide a reclining.article of Ffurriitiire of 1 above described *type equipped with aleg-rest swing-" ablyimountedjon the seat and controlledwy acontrolling-:mechanism,,:wherein the leg-rest may be :swung through arelatively large anglei during" a ,movementnpf the movableume'mbers ofthe" a ticle of. furnitureirom -their sitting position into their.extreme r'eclined position.

Anqthelf'objeciioi :.'the;prsent invention' is to improve ion-reclining.articleslof furniture of above described. type i as new;ordinarilymade.

With theabove, andmther, objects ofth'invention in ,\view, the inventionconsists ins the novel. consti'nction,v arrangement iandncombinationof;vario is nevices elements and. parts -.asset iio rth in ithe, claimshereof,-;- centain. embodi-T ments oithe same being described in thespeci-' 1 fication and b eing illustrat'ed in the accompany-1;

ing d avvingsforming part of this specification,

whreinz, v

F ig.v v1 is a side elevational view of a, reclining wheel chair inaccordance with the invention, 11;

i fi-g. 3 is a iragmentaryl side ,elevational View of thetront portionof the wheel-chair shown in. Fig; 1, illustrating the holding device forthe legreste g ig 3 is a of Fig.2;

sectional along l ine 3 3 Engages a sectional: view taken along 'line 255 of Fi .4;

were is a sidelevatipnalfview of another em bodimnt of a chairinaccordance with the invention'ya portion of a side-"frame beingbroken" away, l 7 7 Fig. is-alsectional view taken along line 1-1 ofFi-g'.:;6, and' 1 Fig. an asidel levatichalview of still anotherembodiment of a reclining chair. in-accordanc'e with'the'invntion,a'portion of a side'frame' being brokenzaway. Referring now to Fig.1,153 :g enerally indicates a supfibrt comprising" two side frames oftlibular designllwhichfare interconnected by aplurality of transverserods-fl firbvidi'ng a, rigid o'pe'n strnc- 7 ture. The support in iseqnipped with wheels [4' of 'anyconventional structure L I A back'rest-lfi ispitoted at I8 to lugs "20 of thefsuppbrt.l:0.r,=.'Saidlbackerest It has a downward. extension 22 projectingdownwardly Beyond the ilfiillota l connection: t8 betweentthe back-restl6ttand theIlugS'LZU "of the support-I 0." According toLthe-QembodimeritwhoWn in-Fig. 1, said down wardextensiomZ'Z isintegrala'withthe back-rest Y l6;;.if desired,ishowevr,isaidextension-22 could be -ioi 21a. separatefpieceot material rigidly con- 3necteda With the:back-rest I6 in any} suitable manner. 5; On? each'silelofzthe wheelchair, the rear portion of 'a lower link 243's pivotedto said extensionnhof 'th 'bacli-rest 1.6. at'ZG below'thetheistationarir '1;$ortionof the support I 0 between that-pivotal:c'onection 34 of the'connecting link '30 Lwithxtheffsnpport-and thepivotal cqnneizti tinI l8 .of theIback -rest is with said-support formthe links of a four bar link mechanism. The'irear portionot a seat 36 isbivote'd to the ;;1ugs'"20. of'theuppbrt In at as ata point spaced-:fromthew-pivotal connection l8 between thebaok-resFI-G and-.the li'igs 120.each "side of thecha'iii'the 111131381" end Iibrtion of a front link 40is pivotedto theffi'o'nt poitionef the seat 36 at 1.42. Thilowr'endfiaortion of saidfront link 49 isp'ivoted to the lowerilinki l 'at28 in co-axial alignment. with l the pivotal connection 5 between saidlower .linkaZkand'the connecting link 30.

The'athus' connected four-bar rlinli mechanism 22,-2 4,'a,39,:3.-+%.|'8;and the linl chain 35;; 4 0 form a polygonal compound linkagef'Th'elinks of said polygonal compound linkage may be readily arranged in sucha manner and in such proportions that the movable members of the chairare very well balanced, so that an occupant resting in the chair maybring the movable members of the chair from one position (for example,the sitting position shown in full lines) into another position (forexample, the extreme reclined position shown in dash and dot lines)without great effort.

A leg-rest 44 swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat 36 at46 has an upward extension 48. A controlling bar 50 integral With theconnecting link 30 swingably mounted on the support I!) at 34 has acontrolling surface 52 in the shape of a lug, which is in loose contactwith said upward extension 48 of the leg-rest 44..

The upward extension 48 of the leg-rest 44 may be held against saidcontrolling lug 52 by means of a spring (not shown) When the controllinglug -52 .of the controlling bar 56 is in engagement with said upwardextension 48 of the leg-rest 44, the movements of the leg rest arecontrolled in dependence on the movements of the controlling link 30.'-Thus, if, for example, the occupant resting in the chair leans theweight of his body against the back-rest I6 so as'to swing same aboutits pivot I6 into the reclined position; I6',- the seat 36,; forming alink of above described polygonal compound linkageand the leg-rest 44being controlling by the controlling bar fl integral with the connectinglink 30 of above described polygonal compound linkage are brought intothe position 36 and 44 respec-.

tively. j I w I The movable members of the wheel-chair may be held inany desired position by means of alocking device generally indicated at54. As best shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, said locking device 54 comprisesa locking rod 56 swingably mounted on the seat 36 at 58. Saidlocking..,r0d .56 is. slidably engaged with a clamping sleeve 60 havingbores. 62 for engagement with, a bolt 64. Said bolt 64 has a squareportion 66 inserted into a corresponding square apertureof a bracket 68mounted on a side frame of the support ID. A washer I0 is placed on thebolt 64 between the surface of the bracket 68 andthe clamping sleeve 66.The head I2 of the bolt 64 rests against a surface of the bracket 68,and a locking knob "is screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 64. Whenthe locking knob I4 is loosened, the locking rod 56 may freely slide inthe clamping sleeve 66 soethat the movable members of the wheel-chairmay be freely moved from one position into another one. When the lockingknob I4 is tightened, the clamping sleeve 66 is tightly pressed againstthe locking rod 56, whereby the latter and the seat 36 and those movablemembers of the chair which are positively connected with the seat areheld in their position.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the locking rod 56 has a series of bores I6. Apin I8 passing through a hole of a stop collar 80 adjustably arranged onthe locking rod 56 may be selectively engaged with a bore of the seriesof bores I6, whereby said stop collar 80 is held in a predeterminedposition on the locking rod 56. When the seat 36 is lifted, the rod 56slides in the clamping sleeve 66 until the stop collar 88 abuts againstsaid clamping sleeve, whereby the extreme reclined position 36' of theseat and the extreme reclined position of the other movable members ofthe wheel-chair positively connected with the seat is limited. As willbe readily understood, said extreme reclined position of the variousmovable members of the wheel chair may be varied and adjusted by acorresponding adjustment of the position of the stop collar 86 on thelocking rod 56.

The sitting position of the movable members of the wheel-chair islimited by a stop 62 mounted on the support I0, against which the seat36 comes to a rest when the latter is in its substantially horizontalsitting position.

As mentioned above, the controlling lug 52 (Fig. 1) is in loose contactwith the upward extension 48 of the-leg-rest 44, so that the legrest 44with its extension 48 may be disengaged from said -controlling lug 52,when the seat 36 is held in a certain position by means of the lockingdevice 54. For example, the upward extension 43" of the leg-rest 44 maybe grasped by hand, and the leg-rest may be swung into the position- 44a\vhile'the*seat"36 remains in the sitting position shown in full lines.A holding device "generally indicated by 84 and mounted on the seat' 36may be used for holding the legrest 44in a certain position, forexample, in said position 44a, relative to the seat 36. As best shown inFigs. 2 and 3;said holding device 84 comprises a rod.86 slidably engagedwith a clamping sleeve 88 having bores 96 for receiving a bolt 92mounted on'a lug 93 attached to the seat 36. A square portion'94-of thebolt 92 having ahead 95 is engaged with a corresponding square apertureof the lug 93, so that the bolt 92 is prevented from rotation, when alocking knob 96 screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 92 is turned.Assume that the rod 86 is in the position shown infull lines in Fig. 2,and that the leg-rest has been swung by hand from the position shown infull lines into the position 44a. In order to hold said leg-rest in saidposition 44a, the locking knob 96 of the holding device 84 is loosenedwhereupon the rod 86 may be axially displaced in the clamping sleeve 88until it abuts against said leg-rest in the position 44a as shown indash and dot lines. Now, the, locking, knob 96 is tightened, whereby theclamping sleeve 68 is tightly pressed on the rod 86 so as to hold sameand the leg-rest in the dashand dot line position. When after aloosening of the lockingpdevice 54, the movable membersofthe chair arebrought into a reclined position, the leg-rest will remain in saidposition 46 relative to the seat 36, until the controlling lug 521 ofthe controlling bar 59 abuts against the extension 48 of the leg-rest44. If, after such an abutment the movement of the movable members ofthe wheel-chair is continued, the position of the leg-rest 44 relativeto the seat 36 is altered by the controlling lug 52 in dependence on themovement of the connecting link 36.

According to the embodiment of an adjustable reclining chair shown inFig. 6, the support III! comprises the side frames III and H3 connectedwith each other by a plurality of cross bars H2.

The back-rest II6 having a downward extension I22 is pivoted to thesupport at II8. On each side of the chair the rear portion of the lowerlink I24 is pivoted to the extension I22 of the back-rest at I26. Thelower end portion of a connecting link I30 is pivoted to the lower linkI24 atIZB. The upper end of said connecting link I30 is pivoted to thesupport H0 at I34. Again, the movable extension I22 of the backrest II6, the movable lower link I24, the movable connecting link I30 and thestationary portion of' th support lo 'betwee'ni'the' pivots- 134 and PI8 form-the links or a'four-bar link mechanism.

nhe-=1ower3-1in1 1 24= has an extension 5 I98 pro- =jeoting beyond itspivotal -connec-tion 125 with the connecting link- 130; According :to-Fig. 6,

'"the 1ower- =end portion of the front link I4!) is pivotedto said"extension l98- 'of the lower link '-l='24 at-IIJ0-at a point spacedfromthe pivotal connection 128' 'between' the lower link 1-24 and "theconnecting- -linklfll. The" upper end of the e from? link 140 is pivotedat 142 tothe seat I36, "the-rear en'd'of which is-pivoted to the supportHI 0 "atthe point l38'spacedfrom the pivotal connection' -l I 8 betweenthe -back-rest I 6 and the '-o'n"the frontportionofthe seat-I36 at I46.One 'e'ndof a controllinglinkflfill is-pivoted'to said leg rest l id'atllll, 'the*other'-end' of said controlling link ISO is pivoted at H12 toa controlling arm' I03 swingabiy mounted on'the con- 4 'necting"-linkl3llat128. Asbest'show'n in'F'igs. c and 7 the co'nnecting' link 130" isprovided with a cam like lugf'l Mar'ranged for engagement with saidswingable mronmge m "I03, so that the lattermay be held in alignmentWith said connectin'g link 130' during a swinging movement of "thelatter about: the pivotl 34'. When the 'membe'rsbf thechair are in'theposition'shown in 'full lines inFi'g. GQthe'back-rest, seat and leg--r'est may-be brought into a reclined position, for

example; the extreme reclined position 'I I6, 136', -Mlf shown'indasha'nddot lines,-by swinging the ;'b'ack'=res't about its pivot V H8'. I

held-in any desiredposition by means of a lockand seat are held in a'predetermined positiong w.-

for example; the'sittingpo sition shown in full lines in'Efig. anymeansor the locking device "I54; the legj-restl may be'swung by handabout its pivot 'Mll'into the position M ld, wherein the 'swingaiblecontrolling arm; being in the position'--* 103 is infalignment' with"the controlling link "being 'infthepositiori [50d 'Now,when'a slightpressureis exerted on the leg-rest," for example, by the legs of theoccupant resting in the chair,

the'controlling" arm 103 and the controlling link "l5il' are movedslightly beyond s'aid'straight line with thelug weenie controlling arm"13 abuts against the" controlling link," whereby said ele- -ments"are"locked and held in a' predetermined pds'mdnwentive toea'chother, sothat'the legrest is held in "the position I l l'a relative to these'atfl36'. v

Th f' sittin'g"position'of the movable members of the chair is"limite dby a stop we mounted onthe'supp'ort for cooperation with the exten-'sionflzz or the back r e st -ll6';' the' extreme r'eclined positionof"the' movable members of 'the chair is limited by a stop fllllarranged on the support H0 'for"- codperation "with the" back- Accordingto'the embodiment of an adjustable reclining armchairshown": in Fig. 8;the support 2''! fli'comprisesfthe side frames 21 l and "213 t'connected-with 'e'a'ch' other-by" a plurality "of ..'cros's zbars 206'; tll'l'saiid 21 '2.

J Thexback-resti 2| (ii-having azldownward :exten sion 1222 is pivotedto'thesupport filflvat 218. On ea'oh -side' of the chair, the rearportion of the "lower link 224- is pivoted-vto said extension 222 oi-the back rest H6 at 226. The front portion of' saidlowerlink 224 ispivoted at 228 to the lower end of aconnecting link 230, the upper end'ofwhich'is pivoted tothe support 2H] at 234. Thus, the movableextension 222 of the back-rest i-ldthe movable lower link 224, themovable connecting link 2'30 and the stationary portion of the support 2l D'between the pivots 234 and 2 l8 form the-links of a four-bar linkmechanism. The-rearportion of the seat 23$ is pivotedto the support 2'')at 238' at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 218 between'theback-rest 2i 6 and' the s'upport 2H3? The front portion of 'the seatZtEfis pivoted at 2 32 to the upper endof a fro-ntf link 2 353, thelowerend of whichis pivoted to an intermediate point'of the lower'link224 at the point viillt'spaced from the pivotal connection' 228 betweenthelower link 22:? and-the connecting link 230;

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in fulllines is limited by the cross bar 2% acting as a stop for cooperationwith the extension 222 of the back-rest 256. The extreme reclinedposition of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot linesis limited by the cross bar 2'0? acting as a stop for cooperation'withthe back-rest 2H5.

Themov'able members of the chair may be held in any desired position bymeans. of a locking device" 254 substantially of the type describedabove in connection with Fig. 4.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it isunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration andthat various omissions or changes in shape, proportion, and arrangementof parts, as'w'ell as'the substitution of equivalent elements for those'herein'shownand described, may be made without departing-from thespirit and scope of the "invention asset'forth in the appended claims.For example, one or more of the links of the linkage of the chair may bein the shape of a bent link instead of a-straight link as shown in the'drawings. 7

- Furthermore, one or more of the links of the linkage of the chair maybe made of an adjustable link so as to vary the relative positions andmovements of themembers of the'chair.

Furthermoreythe invention may be applied to other articlesof furniturethanthe type of chair shown in -the'drawings; for example, to oificechairs, garden chairs, chairs for use in railroadrars; chairs'for use inairplanesloungets,

etc.

=What I claim is: I 1. A reclining article of furniture, comprismg: asupport, a back-rest pivoted to saidsupport,:said back-rest having anextension'project end portion of said connecting link being pivoted .tos'a'id support 'at apoint spaced from the pivotal iconne ction betweenthe back-rest and the support; saidextension of the back-rest, saidlower 75 link; said coiiiictiuglink and the stationary: portion of thesupport between the pivotal connections of the connecting link with thesupport and of the back-rest with the support forming links of afour-bar link-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat beingpivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connectionbetween the back-rest and the support, and a front link, one end portionof said front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, andthe other end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lowerlink.

2. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport, a lower link the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the back-rest below said pivotal connection betweenthe back-rest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion ofsaid connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lowerlink, the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, saidextension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the supportand of the back-rest with the support forming links of a four-barlink-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from-the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, a front link, one end portion of said frontlink being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, the other endportion of said front link being pivoted to the lower link, and lockingmeans connected between two relatively movable members of the articlefor locking the movable members thereof in a predetermined position.

3. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport, a lower link, the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the backrest below said pivotal connection betweenthe back-rest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion ofsaid connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lowerlink, the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, said extension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the supportand of the back-rest with the support forming links of a four-barlink-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, and a front link, one end portion of saidfront link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, and theother end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower link ata point coaxial with the pivotal connection between the lower link andthe connecting link.

4. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport. a lower link, the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the back-rest below said pivotal connection betweenthe backrest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion of saidconnecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lower link,the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted to saidsupport at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, said extension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the supportand of the back-rest with the support forming links of a four-barlink-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, and a front link, one end portion of saidfront link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, and theother end portion of said front link being pivoted to a point of thelower link spaced from the pivotal connection between the lower link andthe connecting link.

5. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport, a lower link, the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the back-rest below said pivotal connection betweenthe back-rest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion ofsaid connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lowerlink, the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback rest and the support, said extension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the supportand of the backrest with the support forming links of a fourbarlink-mechanism, said lower link having an extension projecting beyondits pivotal connection with the connecting link, a seat, the rearportion of said seat being pivoted to said support at a point spacedfrom the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the support, and afront link, one end portion of said front link being pivoted to thefront portion of said seat, and the other end portion of said front linkbeing pivoted to said extension of the lower link.

6. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport, a lower link, the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the back-rest below said pivotal connection betweenthe back-rest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion ofsaid connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lowerlink, the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, said extension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of the connecting link with the supportand of the back-rest with the support forming links of a four-barlink-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, and a front link, one end portion of saidfront link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, and theother end portion of said front link being pivoted to an intermediatepoint of the lower link between the pivotal connections of the latterwith the connecting link and the backrest.

'7. A reclining article of furniture, comprising: a support, a back-restpivoted to said support, said back-rest having an extension projectingdownwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the back-rest and thesupport, a lower link, the rear portion of said lower link being pivotedto said extension of the back-rest below said pivotal connection betweenthe back-rest and the support, a connecting link, one end portion ofsaid connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said lowerlink, the other end portion of said connecting link being pivoted tosaid support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between theback-rest and the support, said extension of the back-rest, said lowerlink, said connecting link and the stationary portion of the supportbetween the pivotal connections of 10 the connecting link with thesupport and of the back-rest with the support forming links of afour-bar link-mechanism, a seat, the rear portion of said seat beingpivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connectionbetween the back-rest and the support, a front link, one end portion ofsaid front link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, theother end portion of said front link being pivoted to the lower link, aleg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, and acontrolling mechanism in operative relation with a member of the articleand said leg-rest for controlling the movements of the latter.

ANTON LORENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,128 Wilmot et a1 Sept. 12,1905 1,166,198 Fischrupp Dec. 28, 1915 1,846,797 Decker Feb. 23 19322,433,521 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947

